Rotary engine.



No. 658,!90. I Patented Sept. I8, I900.

' 6. F. MOSS &. A..1MBODEN; v

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Feb-.8, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

N0. s5s,|9o. Patented Sept. I8, I900. G. F. MUSS &.,S.""A. IMBUDEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Fab. 5, 1900. (No Model.) 2'Sheers-Shaet 2.

I 3 .364 2 40 017111085, gz Qz fl' I lazy.

' UNITED STATES PATENT @rricii.

'oALvIN F. Moss ANDpSAlv IUEL A. IMBODEN, or LE PER, MISSOURI.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 658,190, dated September is,- 19cc.

Application filed February 8,1900. Serial No. 4,529. the model.)

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CALVIN F. MOSS and SAMUEL A. IMBODEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Leeper, in the county of.

Wayne and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Rotary Engine, of

which the following is a specification, refer had therein to the accompanying ence being drawings.

This invention relates to steam-engines ofv the class known as rotary, and is designed to be operated by expansion.

The object of the present inventionis to;

provide a revolving cylinder which surrounds a stationary piston and to mount. the piston upon a stationary shaft having its end portions hollow, one end'of the shaft forming the steam-supply and the opposite end the exhaust. The cylinder carries a pluralityof wings, which slide in and out in radial paths with relation to the stationary axle and which are controlled by their engagement with the stationary piston. The cylinder is provided with arim and spokes rigidly connected thereto, which rim is adapted to receive a driving-belt, by means of which the power may be transmitted to any desired point.

Other detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the course of the ensuing description.

The invention consists in a rotary steamengine embodying certain novel featuresand 1 details of construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in I the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figured is 1 a vertical section throughthe improved engine, taken centrally ofand inline with the stationary shaft. Fig. 2 is a central vertical 5 section taken transversely of the stationary axle. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line' '3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the piston-wings with one of the sidebars and its packing-segments removed, showing also one of the self-adjusting saddles which rest on the periphery of the piston. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the self-adjusting abutment, showing also the follower-plate therefor.

comprises a stationary piston l and a revolving cylinder 2. The piston 1 is mounted upon 'a stationary axle 3, which is supported at its opposite ends in pillow blocks or bearings 4,

set into or mounted upon suitable walls or This axle is hollow as to both brickwork 5. of its end portions, being provided with a longitudinalbore 6 in one end, constituting the steam-supply passage, and having at its opposite end a longitudinal bore 7, forming the exhaust-passage, the bore 7 being internally threaded at'its extremity, as shown at 8, to enable a pipeto be coupled thereto, which pipe may lead to a suitable condenser.

The supply-passage,6 bends about centrallyof the piston at the point 8 and is then extended to the periphery of the piston to form a radial passage 9. This passage 9opens out at the periphery of the cylinder on one side of the abutment, hereinafter described, the said abutment dividing the interior of the cylinder into expansion and exhaust portions,

as will hereinafter appear.

The exhaust-passage 7 after reaching the central portion of the piston 1 bends at the point 10 and then'extends radially, as shown at 11 i n dotted lines in Fig. 2, where it communicates with a curved or segmental pa..-

sage 12, located near the periphery of the p'iston and extending parallel to the outer surface thereof. Leading outward from the passage 12 are several ports 13, which are intended to relieve back pressure by allowing 1 the steam within the cylinder to pass into the passage 12 and thence into the exhaust-pas-v sage in amanner that will be readily understood by referring to Fig. 2.

The cylinder 2 completely incloses the pis ton and is arranged eccentrically thereto, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cylinder is provided with spokes 14, upon the outer ends of which is mounted a rim 15, which-is carried around by the cylinder and which is adapted to receive a driving-belt by means of which the power derived from the engine may be belted 0E to any desired point. e The inner surface of the cylinder 2 and, the pesteam'space riphery of the piston 1 approach each other nearest at the top of the engine, and at this point there is placed a self-adjusting abutment 16, the said abutment being attached to the piston and bearing against the same, forming a steam-tight joint with the inner surface of the cylinder. The abutment 16 comprises a pair of sections 17, which are transversely divided on a zigzag line 18, by means of which they may slid' together or away walls of the cylinder, ing provided with a right-angular flange 19, extending a short distance along and against one of the side walls of thecylinder. Thesections 17 are also provided in their inner surguide-rib ing seated in a recess the piston, as shown in Fig. 2. abutment-sections are ed, they are free to slide longitudinally upon the rib 21 for adjusting themselves to the cylinder.

The follower-plate 21 is provided on its inner side with a round ordisk-shaped head 24,

connected with the follower-plate by a re-* duced shank or neck 25. This head 24 fits within a cylindrical recess 26 in the piston immediately under the abutment and is adaptr ed to slide up and down ing the reduced neck or shank 25 anannular 27 is obtained and "steam is admitted thereto a small passage 28, leading from the st'eam passage 9, as shown in Fig. 2. The pressure of the steam is thus brought to hear behind the follower-plate with the effect that the latter, together with the abutment, is urged-outward'toward the inner surfaceo'f the cylinder, E} thus maintaining a tight joint and prevent- 1 ing the steam on theexpansion side from get- 5 or exha'ustside. A small 30. leads from the base-of ting to the opposite ventilating-passage the recess 26 to the exhaust-passage 12,'so'as to allow any steam *or water 'of condensation which gets beneath the head 24 to escape.

The cylinder 2 is provided at intervals with outward radially-extending chambered 'offsets 31, in which slide acorresponding series or piston-wings 32. Each of said "wings is constructed as shown indetail in Fig. 4, and comprises a bodyportion 33, against which the steam acts by expansion, and "side ba rs 34. The side bars are of greater lengt'h't-han the wingand areprovided at t'heirinner ends with inwardly-extending pins or studs 35, i

from each other, so as to accurately adjust themselves to the inner surfaceand side each of the sections bev therein. By providbeneath the follower-plate by of the cylinder and which are received in openings in a pair of oppositely-located segmental shoes 36, adapt- 1 ed to traverse annular guide grooves or ways 37 in the opposite sides of the piston. As the grooves or ways 37 are eccentric to the inner surface of the cylinder as the cylinder seeded rot-ates around the piston, said shoes act to move the -wings 32 in and out without permitting the steam to pass by said wings.

Each of the side bars 34 is hollowed out on three of its sides, as shown at the left hand of Fig. 4, and within said hollowed-out portion is placed-a V-shaped follower-plate 38. Outside of the plate 33 are arranged packing'sections 39, the sections being divided in a manner similar to the abutment-sections 17, so that they may have a free relative movement, thereby enabling them to adjust themselves to the grooves in the cylinder in which the side bars slide. The sections 39 are forced outward by the plate 38, and the latter is impelled outward by the action of a small quan-' tity of steam, which is admitted "through. a passage 40, communicating with the interior opening into the cut-out portion of the side bar 34 behind the plate 38. in this manner the packing-sections 39 are forced outward to obtain a close steamtight fit with the grooves in which the side bars 34 move, and this prevents the steam from escaping around the sides of thepistonwings. The inner edge of each wing is pro' vided with a half-cylindrical seat 41 for the reception of the rock pin 42 of a saddle 43, "which .fits closely against the periphery of the piston 1. The saddle 43 is divided into sections which have a relative sliding movement upon each other andthe'rock-pin 42, whereby they are enabled to adjust themselves to the surfaceof the piston. The opposing faces of the saddle-and the inneredge of the pistonwing are reverselychamfered or beveled, as shown at 44 in Fig. 2, in order that the saddle may freely rock upon its fulcrum and maintain .a close contact with the piston.

The piston is provided in its opposite sides with annular grooves 45, in which-are placed packing-rings 46. Each of said wings is preferably split on an oblique line, as shown at 47, so that they will crowd upon each other and maintain aclose contact between the side walls of the piston and the cylinder. The end or hnb portions 48 of the cylinder are internally recessed, as shown at 49, to receive bearing-sleeves50, which are preferably made insections, and each section pressed inward by meansofsetscrews 51, so as to "bear closely against the stationary axle 3 and form an effioient'bearing for the cylinder. Oil-passages 52 lead through the pillow-blocks 4 and stationaryax le 3 to the inner surfaces of the bearing-sleeves 50 for keeping the bearings properly lubricated. At theoutercnd of each bearing-sleeve 50 is arranged a divided packing-ring 53 similar to that, 46, hereinabove ICO IIO

described, for preventing oil from escaping at the ends of the hub portions of thecylinder.

Connected with the supply end of thestationary hollow shaft is a valve-casing 54, in which is arranged a valve 55 for controlling the supply ofsteam to theengine, said valvecasing being equipped with asteam-chcst 56. Any suitable valve mechanism may be cmployed for admitting steam to the cylinder and cutting oil? the supply at the'proper in-,

tervals. The stationary piston may be chambered out at one or more places, as shown at 57, to receive water. of condensation, and

passages 58 may be provided leading therefrom to the exhaust-passages 1 1 for permitting the escape of such water of condensation.

In operation the steam enters the cylinder through the supply-passage 6 9 just at one side of the self-adjusting abutment 16, where it acts by expansion between the abutment and adjacent wing to impart rotary motion to the cylinder and the rim carried thereby. After traveling a certain distance the steam is cut ofi to allow the-next wing to pass, after which steam is again admitted behind the following wing, and so on. After traversing about two-thirds of the cylinder the steam exhausts into the passage 11 and passes outward to the condenser. Any steam which may lie in advance of the piston-wings and which'would exert a back pressure escapes through the ports 13in the segmental passage 12, and is thus led to the main exhaustpassage 11 and outward in a manner that will be readily understood. It will be seen that care has been taken to provide suitable selfadjusting packing devices at the various points where the steam is apt to escape or interfere with the free movement of the cylinder, thereby adding greatly to the value of the improvements herein disclosed.

We do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement hereinabove set forth, but reserve,the right to change, modify, or vary the construction within the scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The combination with a piston and axle, of a cylinder surrounding the piston, sliding wings, and a self-adj ustin g saddle carried by each wing, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the piston, wings carried by the cylinder and controlled in their movement by the piston, and a self-adjusting saddle carried by each wing and bearing against the piston, substantially as described. I

3. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, wings carried by the cylinder and controlled in their movement by the piston, and a saddle having a rocking engagement with each wing, substantially as'and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, a wing carried by the'cylinder and controlled by the piston and provided in its inner edge with a semicylindrical seat, a saddle carried by the wing, and a rock-pin interposed between the saddle and wing, sub stantially as specified.

5. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, a Wing carried by-the cylinder and controlled by the piston, anda selfbearing against the piston and comprising relatively-movable sections, substantially as I specified.

6. The combination with a stationary pis- .70 adjusting saddle carried by the wing and 1 ton and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, a wing carried by the cylinder and controlled by the piston, side bars on'the 7. The combination with a stationary" pis- A ton and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounds ing the same, a wing carried by the cylinder and controlled by the piston, side bars on the wing movable in ways in the cylinder, and movable and self-adjusting packing-sections on eachofthe side bars, substantially as described. a

8. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, a wing carried by the cylinder,

side bars on the wing connected to the piston, relatively-movable packing-sections on each side bar, and a steam-actuated followerplate for pressing the sections outward, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, a wing carried by the cylinder, bars on the Wing engaging the piston and each provided with a steam -passage, relativelymovable packing-sections on each side bar, and a steam-actuated follower-plate arranged behind the packing-sections and in front of the steam-passage,substantially as described.

10. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a rotary cylinder surround- .ing the same and carrying wings, an abutment seated in the piston and bearing against the,cylinder and comprising relatively-movable sections, and a follower-plate arranged behind said sections, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a stationary piston and axle, of a cylinder surrounding the same and carrying wings, an abutment seated in a recess in the piston and bearing against the cylinder and comprising relatively-mow able sections grooved on their inner faces, and a follower-plate provided with a guiderib, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12.- The combination with a stationary piston,of a rotary cylindersurrounding the same, a movable abutment seated in the piston and comprising relatively-movable sections having dovetailed grooves in their inner surfaces, and a follower-plate provided with a dovetailed rib, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination with a stationary piston and a rotary cylinder surrounding the same, of a movable abutment seated in a recess in the piston, a follower-plate behind the 1 abutment, a steamchamber under the foli lower-plate and a steam-supply passage comi m'unicating with said chamber, substantially as described. 14. The combination with a stationary pis- 1 ton,of a rotarycylinder-surroundin g the same, a movable abutment connected with the piston, a follower-plate behind the abutment, a head connected by a reduced. neck with the 1 follower-plate and arranged in arecess formj in g asteam-chamber, andasteam-snpply pasi sage communicating with said steam-cham- 1 her, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a stationary pis- 1 ton ,of a rotary cylinder snrronndingthe same, a movable abutment seated in arecess in the piston, a followerplate behind the abutment, a head connected with saidplate and arranged in a recess in the piston, a steam-inlet passage leading thereto, and anexhaust passage 1 leading therefrom, substantially as described. 16. The combination with arotary cylinder, 3

4 team of a stationary piston provided with an inclosed segmental exhaust-passage extending parallel with the periphery of the piston at one side and having one or more ports leading therefrom to the chamber within the cyli-nder, substantially as described.

17. The combination witha stationary axle and piston, of a rotary cylinder surrounding the piston and having hub portions encircling the axle, sectional cylindrical bearingsleeves interposed between the-hub portions and the axle, vadjusting screws passing through the hnband pressingagainst the sectional bearing-sleeves, and oil-passages lead ing to the inner-surfacesof said sleeves, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CALVIN F. MOSS. SAMUEL A. IMBODEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY N. NIcHoLs, E. H. FAIRCHILD. 

